Strong’s Greek 1309 conveys the idea of a complete and successful escape. Though it appears only once in the Greek New Testament, the term crystallizes a biblical theme that runs from Genesis to Revelation: God’s sovereignty over every attempt to flee danger, judgment, or captivity, and His power to deliver or restrain according to His redemptive purposes.

The Sole New Testament Occurrence: Acts 27:42

“The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.” (Acts 27:42)

Luke’s narrative places the word at a dramatic moment during Paul’s voyage to Rome. A fierce storm has wrecked the ship off Malta. Roman soldiers, fearing the severe penalty for allowing prisoners to escape, intend to kill the detainees. The verb translated “escaping” (διαφύγῃ) highlights the soldiers’ concern that any prisoner might slip through their grasp in the confusion of the wreck.

Historical Background

Roman military practice held soldiers personally liable for the prisoners under their watch (see also Acts 12:19; 16:27). Failure meant loss of honor at best, execution at worst. In Acts 27 the soldiers’ drastic proposal underscores the stakes: the captain, cargo, and prisoners all belong to Caesar, and desertion or loss was treasonous. Luke’s record aligns with extant Roman statutes that demanded a guard’s life for a prisoner’s life.

Divine Providence in Human Crisis

Immediately after verse 42, the centurion Julius intervenes, “wanting to spare Paul” (Acts 27:43), ordering those who could swim to jump first and others to follow on planks. Every soul reaches land safely. The single occurrence of diaphugē on the lips of the soldiers contrasts with heaven’s overruling plan, emphasizing that human schemes—whether murderous or merciful—are ultimately subordinate to God’s design. Paul had already received the Lord’s assurance: “God has granted you all who sail with you.” (Acts 27:24). Not a prisoner would escape Rome’s custody, yet all would escape death by drowning.

Escape and Responsibility

Scripture balances God’s deliverance with human accountability. The guards rightly dread an unauthorized escape, while God preserves the lives of both prisoner and guard. This balance appears elsewhere:
• Acts 16:27–28—The Philippian jailer believes suicide preferable to allowing escape; Paul’s intervention spares him and leads to salvation.
• 2 Kings 7:9—Lepers who “escape” famine in Samaria feel obligated to share good news with the starving city.

Whether employing the precise verb of Acts 27 or other terms, the biblical pattern remains: divine rescue never nullifies moral duty.

Broader Biblical Motifs of Escape

1. Deliverance from Judgment: Noah “escapes” the flood (Genesis 7), Lot from Sodom (Genesis 19).
2. Prophetic Remnant: Isaiah foretells survivors who “will escape” Assyrian devastation (Isaiah 37:31–32).
3. Spiritual Flight: Hebrews warns against neglecting salvation—“how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3). The question echoes the inevitability of God’s judgment and the exclusivity of Christ as refuge.
4. Eschatological Promise: Revelation 12 portrays the woman who “escaped into the wilderness,” a future deliverance of God’s covenant community.

Ministry Implications

• Trust in Sovereignty: Storms, shipwrecks, and imprisonments serve the gospel (Philippians 1:12). Believers rest knowing no plot can thwart God’s plan.
• Ethical Integrity: Guards, captains, and apostles alike bear responsibility; faith does not sanction neglect of duty.
• Evangelistic Opportunity: Crisis moments often open doors to witness—Paul’s eventual landing on Malta led to healing ministry and proclamation (Acts 28:1–10).
• Hope Amid Judgment: The only certain escape from final wrath is union with Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

Conclusion

Though Strong’s 1309 appears but once, its lone cameo within Luke’s finely detailed shipwreck account enriches the Bible’s grand narrative of rescue. Human fear of an unauthorized escape collides with divine intent to preserve life and advance the gospel. Every flight from danger—successful or thwarted—ultimately bears witness to the Lord who alone grants true deliverance.